Pressure-regulator for gas plants.



F. L. GROSS. PRESSURE REGULATOR FOR GAS PLANTS. APPLICATION FILED JULYG, 190a.

958,725a Patented May 24, 1910.

Fig. 1

WITNESSES:

IN VEN TOR F'RAN K. 1.. CROSS.

A TTORN E Y5 ANDREW & GRAHAM (XL Pww-Lmwunmzna wasumawu. w. n.

UNITED STATES PATENT ormon.

FRANK L. GROSS, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

PRESSURE REGULATOR FOR GAS PLANTS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. CRoss, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pressure-Regulators for Gas Plants, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to means for maintaining constant pressure in the hydraulic main of a gas generating plant, and consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a View in side elevation, partly diagrammatic, of a portion of a hydraulic main of a gas plant, equipped with means embodying features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 3 shows details of a gasometer counterbalance sheave. Fig. at is a view in detail of a modified form of valve controller.

Referring to the drawings, a discharge conduit or hydraulic main 1 with upright inlet pipes 2 leading from the generators proper, which dip into the liquor in the main, all in conventional, standard manner, has a discharge pipe 3 in which a valve or damper 4;, preferably of the butterfly type, is pivotally secured. The float chamber or tank 5 of a gasometer 6 of the usual type, is operatively connected as by a link 7 and lever 8 to the stem 9 of the valve so that it closes the valve when it rises and opens it as it falls, the tank being balanced in any preferred manner as by a weight 10 and cable 11 passing around a compensating drum 12, whereby the increased weight of the tank as it rises out of the water seal is taken care of. The gas is drawn from the main through the outlet by the usual pump or exhauster.

A pressure pipe 18 leads from any convenient source of gas under pressure external to the gas in the system passing through the hydraulic main, and has an upright arm 14 extending into the main 1 with its open end dipping into the washing liquor on a level with the inlet pipes 2. The pipe preferably has a contracted inlet as a reducer 15 admitting a comparatively small jet of gas, and between it and the arm 14 is an automatic regulating valve 16 of any type adapted to Specification of Letters Patent. Patented lflay 24, 1910, Application filed July s, 1908.

Serial No. 441,966.

close under abnormal back pressure in the pipe.

As herein indicated as a preferred form of the device, the valve has a closure 17 which is connected by a stem 18 to a diaphragm 19 secured across a pressure drum 20, and counterbalanced by a spring 21 whose tension may be adjusted as desired. The rise of the diaphragm draws the closure to its seat. A tube 22 from the closed compartment in the drum of which the diaphragm constitutes the upper wall, passes through the arm 14 and terminates between the normal level of the liquor in the main and the end of the arm. A by-pass 23 discharging directly into the gasometer tank 5, opens from the pressure pipe beyond the regulating valve. A pressure gage 24 may be connected to the tube 22 if desired.

The diaphragm of the regulating valve may be replaced by a gaso-meter 25 (Fig. 4) whose counterbalanced float tank 26 closes a valve 27 when there is back pressure above the normal, the float tank being in direct communication with the valve casing through an upright pipe 28 through which the closure stem 29 extends, its upper end being directly connected to the float.

In operation, the regulating valve is adjusted to remain open and allow gas to pass into the main around the submerged margin of the upright arm with suflicient pressure in the by-pass to hold the gasometer tank so the outlet damper is open sutliciently to keep the required pressure in the hydraulic main. If the pressure in the main falls, the resistance of the flow of gas through the pressure pipe 15 is lessened whereby more gas flows therefrom to the main and correspondingly less to the gasometer whereby the 'asometer tank falls, partially closing the (Tamper until equilibrium is restored. If the pressure rises for any reason, the resultant increase of back pressure in the tube lifts the diaphragm, thereby choking the flow through the pressure pipe and forcing more through the by-pass into the gasometer, which rises and opens the damper, relieving the pressure in the main.

The feature of the invention is the control of the gas flowing through the main by the use of an external current of gas under pressure, thereby rendering the regulation positive.

While herein illustrated and described as applied to a hydraulic main in a gas plant,

the device may be used in connection with any pipe or chamber through which gas is being forced.

Obviously the details of construction may be varied without departing from the spirlt of the invention and I do not care to limit myself to any particular form or arrangement of parts.

What I claim as my invention is 1. The combination with thema'in of a gas generating system, of a valve adapted to control the flow of gas through the main, means for working the valve adapted to be operated by gas under pressure, means for admitting gas under pressure from a source outside the system to the valve working means, and means adapted to automatically control the flow of gas through the gas admitting means.

2. The combination with the main of a gas generating system of a valve controlling the main, means for working the valve adapted to be operated by gas under pressure, a pressure pipe leading from an independent source of supply of gas under pressure into the main a by-pass leading from the pipe to the valve-working means, and an automatic regulating valve in the pipe between the gas main and the by-pass.

3. The combination with the main of a gas generating system of a valve controlling the main, means for working the valve adapted to be operated by gas under pressure, a pressure pipe from an independent source of supply of gas under pressure discharging into the main, a by-pass leading from the pipe to the valve working means, and an automatic regulating valve in the pipe between the by-pass and the main adapted to close when the pressure rises and open when the pressure falls.

4. The combination with the main of a gas generating system, of a valve controlling the main, a gasometer Whose float tank is adapted to operate the valve, a pressure pipe from an independent source of supply discharging into the main, a by-pass from the pipe discharging into the float tank, and an automatic regulating valve in the pipe between the by-pass and the main adapted to close when the pressure rises and open when the pressure falls.

5. The combination with the main of a gas generating system of a valve controlling the main, means for working the valve adapted to be operated by gas under pres sure, a pressure pipe from an independent source of supply of gas under pressure discharging into the main, a bypass leading from the pipe to the valve working means, a regulating valve in the pipe between the by-pass and the main, a closure therein and an expansible chamber in communication with the pipe having a movable diaphragm connected to the closure adapted to seat the closure when the chamber is expanded.

6. The combination with the main of a gas generating system of a valve controlling the main, a gasometer whose float tank is adapted to operate the valve, a pressure pipe from an independent source of supply discharging into the main, a by-pass from the pipe discharging into the float tank, a regulating valve in the pipe between the bypass and the main, a closure therein, and an eX- pansible chamber in communication with the pipe having a movable diaphragm connected to the closure adapted to seat the closure when the chamber is expanded.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK L. CROSS.

Vitnesses C. R. STIGKNEY, A. M. Dome.

ions in Letters Patent No. 958,725;

Correct It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 958,725, granted May 24, 1910,

upon the application of Frank L. Cross, of Detroit, Michigan, for an improvement in "Pressurel-Regulators for Gas Plants, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 37, the Word closes should read 01mm, and same line the Word opens should read closer; and that the proper corrections have been made in the files and records of the Patent Office and are hereby made in the said Letters Patent.

Signed and sealed this 21st clay of June, A. D., 1910.

Acting Oommz'ssz'oner of Patents. 

